An Eye-Opening Experience – Missed Opportunity

This is not my usual type of post but I feel it is important to mention. Opportunities come in so many shapes and sizes, and we need to grab onto them and use them before their warmth fades and their embers die.

I recently learnt a valuable lesson. It is not a new lesson but it remains an important one.

A Stranger In My Car

I had just left work the same time as I do everyday and I was driving the same old road that I drive everyday. A robot (traffice light) forces me to stop and I sit glancing around. Suddenly an elderly woman looks right at me and starts gesturing. I shake my head and assume she is lost and in need directions. She walks to the car, pulls the car door open and starts climbing in. Surprised, I start throwing the various objects that lay on the passenger seat to the back, making space for this elderly lady.

The robot turns green and off we go. She has a high-pitched voice and continues to introduce herself and asks where I am headed. I keep my responses short and to the point, not really sure what to make of the situation. Her final destination is a short detour from my usual route and I happily sit and listen as she rambles on.

She informs me that she is assisting with a project to uplift a local garden that has been renovated and nurtured for a few months now. My interest ignites and my opportunistic nature kicks in. I tell her of my blog and my interest in new places. She smiles and states that it seems our paths were meant to cross. The car stops and we have arrived at her destination. I scramble for a pen to take down her contact details. Alas I scribble her number on my hand with an almost-empty black pen. We say our farewells and I return to my usual route, headed for home. As I drive I constantly remind myself to take a photo of the number or to save it onto my phone but I never get around to doing it.

The next morning after my usual shower, I realize the number has faded and I can no longer make out most of the digits. This is when the realization hits me; I had a great opportunity presented to me but my lack of action has led to a missed opportunity.

A Missed Opportunity

Even though it seems like a small opportunity, it was an opportunity nonetheless. Regret had since then sprouted after this missed opportunity but I had plucked it out soon enough.

I have learnt an important and vital lesson; we need to utilize every opportunity presented to us.

I hope you enjoyed this post, even though it is not my usual content. If you would like me to start including these types of posts, let me know.